December 8, 2014

"Swept Away" by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven, is a contemporary romance novel that I had a hard time putting down. The "Quilts of Love" series is always enjoyable, and although you sometimes kind of get a hint of what's going to end up happening shortly into the first couple chapters of the book, the authors always do a great job of putting that little bit of skepticism into the reader's mind that keeps you feverishly reading to find out what happens.
Sara Jane Morgan is used to dealing with a roomful of students, but her grandmother is another story. Grandma has big plans to teach Sarah how to quilt, while Sara doesn't want anything to do with it for the most part. She is more concerned with her Grandmother's diminishing health and her unpredictable behavior, which sometimes puts Sara into difficult situations. Drew the handyman, is a very complex character with a complicated past. When he meets Sara, he is immediately enthralled by her beauty, but their relationship gets off to a very rocky/tricky start. Their encounters throughout the book are sometimes cringe-worthy, but I found myself rooting for love to win all the way until the last page.
I really enjoyed "Swept Away" and I would recommend it to anybody who enjoys Christian, contemporary romance with an underlying theme of quilting and crafting. The only thing I was not happy with was the bad light that was placed on foster care in a couple quick moments of the book. My husband and I are certified foster parents and while we know that there are some "bad apples" out there, the foster families we know have really big hearts for kids. Our country desperately needs more good, loving foster families so the more encouragement there is out there for that, the better. Ok, I will get off my soapbox now. :) Anyway, like I said, this was a very enjoyable book. It's a fast, fun read and it will keep you turning the pages late into the evening. The characters are well developed and complex, and the plot deals with a lot of real life issues such as dealing with elderly loved ones in kind and caring ways. Read this book! :)

Disclaimer: I received this book for free in from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review

Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven. November’s QOL release is a spark of romance and fun just in time for the holidays.Enter to win a Kindle HDX, and RSVP for the “Merry Quilted” Quilts of Love Facebook party on December 9th.

One winner will receive:

A Kindle Fire

Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven

Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll

Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey

Enter today by clicking the button below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 9th. Winner will be announced during the "Merry Quilted" Christmas Facebook party on December 9th. RSVP today and connect with some of the Quilts of Love authors (Jodie Bailey, Laura V. Hilton, Cindy Loven, Cathy Elliott, and Gina Welborn) for a "merry" evening of book chat, Christmas traditions, prizes, and more!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on December 9th!

December 1, 2014

"A Beautiful Mess Happy Handmade Home"by Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman, is a fun and beautiful look at DIY crafts and projects you can do to brighten and liven up your home decor. Elsie and Emma are the sisters behind the very popular blog "A Beautiful Mess". Their specialty is crafty, fun projects anyone can do without breaking the bank.
The book is organized into home categories such as dining rooms, bedrooms, and small spaces. Each chapter contains an array of projects with bold colors and design. (Eye candy for anybody who loves to decorate.) The sisters make a point to say that these projects are created using their own personal style and taste, and that each one can serve as a jumping off point for your own decorating ideas. So even if your taste doesn't quite match up with theirs, I guarantee you will find something that will inspire you to try something new in your house.
I really enjoyed this book and all the ideas that popped into my head while reading it. It's always nice to get a fresh perspective on decorating and this book is full of inspiration. Even the projects that may not have been my style, planted seeds in my head for future decorating opportunities. I've been itching to do a little redecorating at our house and this was the perfect thing to get my brain going.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

"Buttermilk Sky" by Jan Watson, is based in early 1900s Kentucky. The main character, 18-year-old Mazy Pelfrey, leaves her home in the Kentucky mountains to attend Secretarial school in Lexington. While she's eager to leave her hometown and get a taste of city life, she finds lots of challenges along the way, not the least of which being some mean girls in her school. I could definitely identify with how mean school-age girls can be toward one another so I felt her pain in those moments.

The main story line revolves around a choice Mazy must make between a man named Chanis, a young sheriff from her hometown, and a man named Loyal Chambers who comes from a very wealthy family and lives in the city. Mazy's vision gets clouded by the charming Loyal and all of his determination to marry her. When Chanis comes to visit, all of Mazy's friends are smitten by him and can't understand Mazy's reluctance to go home and marry him.

I definitely enjoyed portions of this book but found my mind wandering at times. I really enjoyed the Cinnamon character and thought she would be an integral part of the plot since she's the first character we meet. But she remains on the sidelines for a lot of the book. I think Jan Watson is a wonderful writer but didn't get into the plot of this one as much as I have in other books she's written. But if you are a Jan Watson fan or a fan of early 1900s historical fiction, I would definitely give it a try.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.